Combination Rotational Novelty and Candy

ABSTRACT

A combination rotary novelty and confection includes a manual energy storage such as a spiral spring wind-up to power gears and shafts that rotate a confection and novelties. The components include a pawl and ratchet control and a speed control using a vibrator gear and oscillating plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

A manual energy storage drives gears on shafts for rotating or moving a confection and novelty.

2. Description of Related Art

The art has many examples of novelty devices including rotating or spinning confections. Examples of these included your applicant's own patents, U.S. Pat. No. 5,209,692, issued May 11, 1993, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,535, issued Nov. 25, 1997, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,885, issued Aug. 1, 2000. All of these patents incorporate battery power as the source of power.

The prior art also has many examples of novelty devices that use windup springs as a power source. These springs can be wound by hand turning a shaft directly or by pulling on a string wound around a shaft to turn the shaft. U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,598 issued Sep. 26, 2000, to R. Cook, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,375, issued May 10, 1994, to S. Kanauchi, are examples of an animated character having a spring wound up by use of a pull string. Both spring motion per se, U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,223, issued Jan. 5, 1993, to S. Ito, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,302, issued Jun. 8, 2004, to R. Morikawa; and in combination with objects to give repetitive motions to them, U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,448, issued Apr. 30, 1991, to K. Asano, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,646, issued Jan. 11, 1994, to F. Fekete et al are known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The novelty consists of a combination of shafts and gears that can rotate to provide motion for one, two, or three objects attached to the upper ends of the shafts. A manual energy storage such as a flat or spiral spring is provided to rotate the shaft and gears. It is shown wound by a knob under control of a pawl and ratchet mechanism that includes a push button control. To prevent runaway speed, a speed control unit is included with the shafts and gearing. To accommodate different seasons and events, different caps cooperate with main gear housing and shafts to vary the overall appearance and operation of the novelty.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the device combination.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed side view of the operating components of the device drive.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the speed control device.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged showing of the plate gear interaction of the speed control device.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the pawl and ratchet control device.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a first cap for placement on the top of the drive of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a second cap for placement on the top of the drive of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a third cap for placement on the top of the drive of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a partial side view of the combination of FIG. 1 showing the spring wound by use of a pull string.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows the general combination of the invention. It includes an upper gear housing 11 for the novelty 10, an upper confection attachment 55, including a confection 51 on a stick 52 attached to an adapter 54 between the upper shaft 1 and confection stick 52. The shafts in housing 11 are rotated by gearing in the housing that includes a speed reducer 20 and flat or spiral spring 14 used to rotate 53 the gears, shafts and confection. A lower housing 12 encloses a ratchet control 50 for the prime shaft 2 used to wind the spring 14 by way of the wind knob 13.

The motion of the novelty is provided by a spring and gearing best seen in FIG. 2. The motive force is provided by turning the prime shaft 2. The energy from turning the prime shaft 2 is stored in a manual energy storage device shown by the spiral, flat spring 14 having the outer end secured to the housing and the inner end secured to the prime shaft 2. A primary drive gear 6 on the prime shaft 2 transfers rotary motion to the confection shaft 1 through confection gear 5 for rotating an object placed on the upper end of shaft 1. The primary gear drive 6 also rotates vibrator plate shaft 3 through transfer gear 7 on vibrator plate shaft 3. The transfer gear 7 is fixed to reduction gear 8 that in turn rotates vibrator shaft 4 through vibrator gear drive 9. A vibrator gear 15 is fixed to vibrator drive gear 9 that contacts a speed regulator 20, best seen in FIG. 3. The upper extent of the vibrator plate shaft 3 and vibrator gear shaft 4 are shaped and can support one or more objects.

Energy for causing rotation is stored in the spring 14. The spring 14 is wound about the shaft 2 by turning the knob 13 and prime shaft 2 within the lower housing 12. The lower housing is attached to the upper gear housing 11. A control device 50, best seen in FIG. 5, is housed within the lower housing 12. The control includes a pawl 24 and ratchet 22 with teeth 23 engaging the pawl. The pawl 24 has a tooth engaging catch 25 on one end and can be pivoted around its other second end 33 although this is not necessary as both ends 25 and 33 can be lifted by the push button 27. A stop 34 on the tooth engaging pawl end 25 of the pawl 24 and second end 33 press against the pawl release extension 21 due to coil spring 26 pressure. The spring 26 presses the pawl release extension toward the pawl release push button 27 and the pawl catch 25 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 22. The pawl catch is normally pressed against the ratchet wheel 22 by the spring 26 to prevent independent rotation when the shaft 2 is being pressed on by the spiral spring 14. The tapered portion of the teeth permits the pawl to move outward, allowing the shaft 2 to rotate when the spring 14 or the knob 13 turns the shaft in the reverse direction. The pawl catch 25 is released from the ratchet wheel teeth by pressing on the push button 27 that presses the release extension 21 against the stop 34 on one end and pivots the other end of the pawl 24 to rotate the pawl around the pivot 33 or lineally outward against the spring 26 to release the shaft 2 and free it to be rotated by spiral spring 14 pressure.

The speed of rotation is controlled by a regulator 20, best seen in FIG. 3. The speed regulator 20 consists of an elongated plate 19 that pivots about shaft 3. One end 41 of the plate has an arcuate internal slot 40 and the other end is provided with an arcuate recess 42 that join tapered ends 43 to form points 44, 45 adjacent vibrator gear 15. The points 44, 45 are spaced apart and are spaced from the teeth of the gear 15 so that the vibrator gear teeth 47 alternately engage the points. The distance between the points 44, 45 of the plate 19 is a little greater than the diameter of the vibrator gear 15, at the location the points are placed on the vibrator gear 15. As seen in FIG. 4, the teeth 47 of the gear are sloped at essentially the same angle as that of the point flats 48, 49 providing a finite contact area between the gear teeth and the plate point flats. A slight frictional force between the shaft 3 and plate 19 can be used to initiate a rotational force on the plate, or a weak spring can be used, or the points can be positioned so that a small portion of one of the points is always in approximate contact with one small portion of one gear tooth. The contact between the gear teeth 47 and one point, e.g. 45, results in a minor collision. The plane at the point and gear teeth collision are at an angle causing the point to bounce off. The contact causes the plate to rotate in one direction about the shaft 3 and pivot within the slot 40 while causing a resistance to rotation of the gear 15. With the plate pivoted in one direction, the opposite point 44 is rotated into interference with another gear tooth 47. This minor collision causes the plate 19 to be pivoted in the opposite direction and functions to offer a minor resistance to rotation thereby reducing the speed of rotation of gear 15 and all the other gears.

As a more detailed example, as the vibrator gear 15 turns there will be alternate contact between one plate point flat and one gear tooth 47. Counterclockwise rotation of gear 15 results in the forward slope of a gear tooth 47 contacting a plate point 45 flat 48. This collision causes the plate 19 to pivot counterclockwise about the shaft 3. This is followed by contact between the plate point flat 49 and a gear tooth 47 forward rotating surface. Contact between the plate opposite point side 44 and the gear tooth propels the plate in the opposite clockwise direction. This reciprocating arcuate action acts as a brake to restrict the rotational speed of the device. The relative rotational speed between the shafts 2, 3, and 4 is controlled by the ratio of the diameter of the gears 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

FIG. 6 is to the same device shown in FIG. 2 having a cap 60 that fits over the top of the upper gear housing. A facade 61 is placed over the adapter 54 and an ornament or object 62, shown in the form of a pumpkin, has a coupling 65 that can engage 67 the top of the shaft 3. Another ornament or object 63, shown in the form of a witch on a broom, is attached to a coupling 66 that can engage 68 the top of the shaft 4.

FIG. 7 is to the same device shown in FIG. 2 having a cap 70 that fits over the top of the upper gear housing. The cap is provided with an adapter 71 for receiving the confection stick 52. The outside of the cap 70 is shown in the form of an ornament or person replica. The inside of the cap is provided with abutments that permit the ornament or person to be oscillated or reciprocated. The tops of the shafts 3 and 4 are provided with an eccentric sloped mover 72, for engagement and rotation by the shaft 3, and an eccentrically mounted mover 73, for engagement and rotation by the shaft 4. The mover 72 can raise and lower the cap and orbit it by abutment with tapered abutment 75. The mover 73 can orbit the cap concurrently with the motions caused by the mover 72 by having the mover engage with recess 76 within the cap.

FIG. 8 is to the same device shown in FIG. 2 having a cap 80 that fits over the top of the upper gear housing. The adapter 54 is covered with a facade 81, shown as a replica of a castle, and an object or ornament 82, shown as a dancing lady. The object or ornament is provided with a coupling 83 for engagement 84 with the top of the shaft 4.

FIG. 9 depicts a device similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 with the knob 13 replaced with a string winder 90 including a spindle 92 finger ring 91 for winding the spring 14 using a string 93.

It is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is illustrative only and that changes, variations, substitutions, modifications and equivalents will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art and that such may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

1. A novelty and confection turning device comprising; a housing for gears and shafts; gears and shafts in said housing; a manual energy storage means for driving said gears and said shafts; a means for winding said manual energy storage means; a means for controlling unwinding of said manual energy storage means for driving said gears and rotating said shafts; said shafts including a first shaft for rotating a confection; and, a coupling means attached to said first shaft for holding a confection.
 2. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 1 wherein: said manual energy storage means is a spiral spring; said means for winding said spiral spring is a second shaft attached to said spiral spring inner end.
 3. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 2 wherein: said means for controlling unwinding of said spiral spring includes a spring loaded pawl and ratchet and a push button release.
 4. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 1 including: a speed control means for limiting the rotation speed of said gears and shafts.
 5. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 4 wherein: said speed control means includes a vibrator gear and an oscillating plate.
 6. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 5 including: a third shaft extending through said oscillating plate and a fourth shaft supporting said vibrator gear.
 7. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 6 including: said oscillating plate having an internal arcuate slot adjacent a first end with said second shaft extending through said arcuate slot; said oscillating plate second end having an arcuate recessed central area to accommodate an end portion of said vibrator gear.
 8. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 7 including: said arcuate recessed central area in said oscillating plate end in points that are spaced apart; said vibrator gear extending into said oscillating plate second end arcuate recess so that there is a small gap between teeth on said vibrator gear and said points of said arcuate recess in said vibrator plate so that rotation of said vibrator gear causes alternate contact between said oscillating plate points and oscillation of said oscillating plate.
 9. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 2 including: a cap for said housing; said cap having a first coupling for holding a first novelty; a third shaft rotated by said spiral spring; said coupling for holding a first novelty is secured to said third shaft.
 10. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 9 including: said cap having a second coupling for holding a second novelty; a fourth shaft rotated by said spiral spring; said second coupling for holding a second novelty is secured to said fourth shaft.
 11. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 2 including: a cap for said housing; said cap being in the form of a replica; a tapered abutment inside said cap replica; a recess inside said cap replica; a third shaft rotated by said spiral spring; a fourth shaft rotated by said spiral spring; a first mover attached to said third shaft; a second mover attached to said fourth shaft; said first mover engages said tapered abutment inside said cap replica; said second mover engages said recess inside said cap replica.
 12. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 8 wherein: said means for controlling unwinding of said manual energy storage means includes a spring loaded pawl and ratchet and a push button release.
 13. A novelty and confection turning device comprising: rotary shafts for moving a confection and a novelty; gears for rotating said shafts; a spring for powering said rotary shafts and said gears; control means for operating said device; control means for limiting the rotational speed of said shafts and gears.
 14. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 13 wherein: said control means for operating said device includes a spring loaded pawl and ratchet operated by a push button.
 15. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 13 wherein: said control means for limiting the rotational speed of said shafts and gears includes a vibration gear and an oscillating plate.
 16. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 13 wherein: said rotary shafts include a first confection rotating shaft, a second prime shaft, a third vibrating plate shaft and a fourth vibrator gear shaft.
 17. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 13 wherein: said gears for rotating said shafts include a primary drive gear, a confection gear for rotating a first confection shaft, a transfer gear for rotating a vibrating plate gear, a speed reduction gear joined to said vibrating plate gear for rotating a vibrator drive gear, a vibrator gear joined to said vibrator drive gear.
 18. A novelty and confection turning device as in claim 17 wherein: said rotary shafts include a first confection rotating shaft, a second prime shaft, a third vibrating plate shaft and a fourth vibrator gear shaft. 